Source:  Future of Technology – Foldable electric car debuts in Europe. The concept is based on the electric CityCar created by researchers at the MIT Media Lab, and commercialized by a consortium of automotive companies in the Basque region of Spain…. The MIT Media Lab envisions the cars finding a home in car-share programs where members drive any available ride around the city and parking at widely distributed charging stations.   The cars have a reported range of 100 km (62 miles) per charge, making them well suited for in-city driving in compact European cities already accustomed to small, fuel-efficient vehicles. … Continue reading Future of Technology – Foldable electric car debuts in Europe

The U.S. lately seems to have fallen into the logic that a massive and overwhelming military is necessary to maintain our country’s security.  History has proven that logic faulty again and again but we seem unable to learn that lesson.  Lets go back to David and Goliath. Goliath was the big military giant with all the current day military weapons and David was just a kid with a slingshot. We all know how that one ended. Let’s use that analogy and compare it to where we are today. If we take any other countries military capabilities and compare it to ours and … Continue reading Military Giants…..

“Frugality is one of the most beautiful and joyful words in the English language, and yet one that we are culturally cut off from understanding and enjoying. The consumption society has made us feel that happiness lies in having things, and has failed to teach us the happiness of not having things.”  – Elise Boulding The above words by Elise Boulding have a very deep and spiritual meaning to me. The very core of our capitalism here in the U.S. is about having things. Without our constant desire to have more than we have our very way of life would be … Continue reading The Happiness of Not Having Things….

Source:  The best God joke ever – and its mine! | Stage | The Guardian. Once I saw this guy on a bridge about to jump. I said, “Dont do it!” He said, “Nobody loves me.” I said, “God loves you. Do you believe in God?” He said, “Yes.” I said, “Are you a Christian or a Jew?” He said, “A Christian.” I said, “Me, too! Protestant or Catholic?” He said, “Protestant.” I said, “Me, too! What franchise?” He said, “Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Baptist or Southern Baptist?” He said, “Northern Baptist.” I said, “Me, too! Northern Conservative … Continue reading The best God joke ever …

There are all kinds of people around today who hand out advice on what jobs will be the most secure in today’s world environment. They say things like nursing  and such can’t be outsourced to another country. But there is now a trend to have surgeries performed in other countries for a fraction of the cost here in the U.S. so I’m not so sure that even nursing is a secure occupation for the future. But I think, if things continue on the way they are now, I have the absolute surest job for tomorrow. It doesn’t take a lot … Continue reading The “Perfect” Job for Tomorrow..

I think I am freaking out with this puzzle stuff (ha)! First I started working jigsaw puzzles for pretty much the first time in my life and now I am seeing puzzle analogies all around me.  When I put the last piece of a recent jigsaw puzzle into place I thought of how it represents life in general. The world is really just one gigantic picture puzzle and all five billion of us on this earth right now are simply pieces that make up the current story.  Pieces come and go but the overall puzzle remains pretty much the same. … Continue reading Pieces of a Puzzle….

I never thought I would see the day I had a few weeks ago. What happened is a puzzle to me.  I never thought I would react the way I did.  Okay, I don’t want to make this into some big mystery (but I kinda did) so I will just come out and say it. My wife has gotten me into working picture puzzles. She has been doing that throughout our 25+ year marriage. She spends hours upon hours sitting at her hobby table working puzzles. She no longer considers anything less than 2,000 pieces to be a challenge.  I … Continue reading This is a Puzzle??

Why do we as a society allow our war machine to gobble up so much of our taxes.  Do we really need to spend so much in money and young people’s lives to be the policemen of the world?? When we quit believing that our security lies in the ability to kill then we will truly be secure. War Is Not the Answer Continue reading War Is Not the Answer.. Spending

In order to make sure you are aware of who wrote one of the most important letters in the Christian Bible I deem it appropriate to make this post primarily about James, the brother of Jesus himself. Some may not realize the history of the person around which I have been quoting as inspiration.  Here is part of what Glo – The Bible for the Digital World says about him:  The author identifies himself as James ( 1:1 ); he was probably the brother of Jesus and leader of the Jerusalem council ( Ac 15 ). Four men in … Continue reading About James…

Behind me in my study is a twelve-foot wall of bookshelves containing many of the books I have read over the years. In order to make room for new ones I regularly clean out all the “technology” books that no longer have any significance. Since I am now back in the Macintosh fold all of the Windows books have been removed. During this latest round of cleaning up I came across a book I have read several times and will now read again. I don’t know if I have posted a recommended reading list here before but if I haven’t … Continue reading Having Our Say…..

  It seems that even though I am deaf I can loudly hear the clock of my life ticking away lately. For that reason I have started up yet another list. If you ask my wife she will tell you that I am first and foremost a “list keeper”. I have lists for so many things I need a list of my lists just to remember them all.  But this particular list may just prove to be the most important one I have made in a while. My latest list is entitled “Things to Do Before I Die”. I know the … Continue reading I Can Hear the Clock Ticking…….

  What causes fights and quarrels  among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle  within you? You desire but do not have, so you kill.  You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.  When you ask, you do not receive,  because you ask with wrong motives,  that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.   These words are from the Epistle of James chapter 4.  James was thought to be the brother of Jesus so he probably knew him almost … Continue reading James and the Battle Within…

Source: U.S. drinking is up, but tastes, norms vary – USATODAY.com. Consumption of alcohol hit a 25-year high in 2010, when 67% of Americans reported drinking alcoholic beverages, according to a Gallup poll. That’s a level unseen since the late 1970s, when 71% of Americans said they drank. I could have told people this condition years ago. Yeah people want to drown their sorrows when things get bad and the last ten years have been pretty bad at least to those of us who don’t have $million accounts.  Just before I turn down my country road I pass “Skidrow  Bar & … Continue reading U.S. drinking is up, but …

If it weren’t so pathetic it would be laughable how these guys will do or say anything to get elected.  It’s time to put on your “Peace” badge Newt and join the Occupiers you thoroughly dissed last week. Continue reading Do Or Say Anything….

via Apple To Announce Tools, Platform To ‘Digitally Destroy’ Textbook Publishing | Epicenter | Wired.com MacInnis sees Apple as possibly up-ending the traditional print publishing model for the low-end, where basic information has for many years remained locked behind high textbook prices. Apple can “kick up dust with the education market,” which could then create visibility for platforms like Inkling. This could then serve as a sort of professional Logic-type tool for interactive textbook creation complement to Apple’s “GarageBand for e-books.” “There will be a spectrum of tools and consumers, and we will continue to fit on that spectrum,” MacInnis opined. … Continue reading ‘Digitally Destroy’ Textbook Publishing….

Source: Billionaire gives $5 million to pro-Gingrich group – Local News – Indianapolis, IN – msnbc.com. The Washington Post first reported the $5 million contribution. Politico reported last month that Adelson was prepared to spend $20 million to help Gingrich. Here is another example of the consequences of the recent Supreme Court decision that “money talks”.  But of course the court said that is just one person exercising his right to free speech. I, and most rational people, would think that the possible $20 million will offset almost a million other people who simply can’t contribute more than a few bucks. … Continue reading Thank You Supreme Court??

George W. Bush Source:  What is George W. Bush Doing Now That He is Not President?. In the two years since he left office, George Bush wrote a book called Decision Points. The memoir was acquired by The Crown Publishing Group and released to the public on November, 2010. The book’s topic is about the 14 most defining and critical decisions he made during his career as President. The former president, who called himself “the decider”,  was paid $7 million for 1.5 million copies and he has been on a national tour promoting it. The book has only been out … Continue reading Is There a Basic Difference Between Republicans and Democrats

This is a picture of a regular occurrence on our road this time of year. Continue reading On The Road in Front of the House….

You can look at half the guy’s stomachs in the world, and you can see they don’t know how to order for themselves. -November 18, 1934  — Will Rogers. This quote says it all.  I don’t need to add blah, blah, blah :) Continue reading Will Rogers

via MacBook Air, Ultrabook spell doom for optical drive | Nanotech – The Circuits Blog – CNET News Apple is different. The Apple of Steve Jobs held focus groups in contempt. In essence, Jobs believed consumers don’t know what they want until you give it to them. So, present them with a MacBook Air–as Apple did in January 2008–and consumers will eventually come around. I pretty much found this to be the case in my professional life as well.  Focus groups/committees just are not forward looking. They tend to be stuck in the past.  If you have something forward looking, that … Continue reading People Don’t Know What They Want Until You Give It to Them..

America can carry herself and get along in pretty fair shape, but when she stops and picks up the whole world and puts it on her shoulders she just can’t “get it done.” – March 15, 1933 Will Rogers Is seems like in the last 80 years we could have learned this lesson. Continue reading Carrying the World…

Here is a picture I took in 2009 at the aquarium on Fishers Wharf in San Francisco. Jellyfish just don’t seem real to me. I was totally entranced by this display. Continue reading S.F. Jellyfish

USA TODAY’s notable tech products from 2011 – USATODAY.com. If you seniors out there want to learn about some of the tech innovations in 2011 I would suggest you read this article.  There are about a dozen significant things that surfaced in 2011 on the new technology front. One of the first things I noticed in this article is that the author constantly mentions that some of the new products coming on the market are almost as good as Apple products. That seems to be a common mantra the last few years. I finally realized that if it is “almost … Continue reading Notable Tech Products from 2011

I’m going back a ways for this In The Slow Lane photo but it is from Galena Illinois which was the home of U.S. Grant. It is really a nice place to visit. The town is very well maintained in the late 1800s period and lots of shopping and historic sites. Continue reading Galena Cellars…

  “I see the world gradually being turned into a wilderness. I hear the ever-approaching thunder, which will destroy us too. I can feel the sufferings of millions and yet, if I look up into the heavens, I think that it will all come out right. In the meantime, I must uphold my ideals, for perhaps the time will come when I shall be able to carry them out.”   – Anne Frank, from The Diary of Anne Frank As pointed out these words were from Anne Frank. Here is some of what Wikipedia says about her Annelies Marie “Anne” Frank  12 June 1929 – early March 1945) … Continue reading Words from Anne Frank…

Source:  Editorial: Too fast to get out of Iraq? No – USATODAY.com. Just nine days after the departure of U.S. forces, Iraq is looking more like its old self — divided, angry and threatened by civil war and dictatorship — than like the self-reliant democracy President Obama described as the troops came home. I don’t understand why the Republicans, and even some Democrats believe that we can change thousands of years of local history in a foreign nation by occupying it with our military might.  I truly think that those who follow this tactic believe that they can turn nations into democracies in this … Continue reading Its Just Iraq Being Iraq….

Call me a naive optimist if you want but now that we are in a new year here are some things I hope, actually dream, to see in 2012: From a personal standpoint My wife and I (and for that matter all seniors) maintain our health in the coming year. That I manage to see more of this great country on our vacations this year. That my actions live up to my words in being my brother’s keeper That I find some good projects this year to keep the boredom down :) That the words of Will Rogers continues to … Continue reading Hopes & Dreams For 2012…

Here is an extended quote from the second chapter of James for our discussion today: You foolish person, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless ? Was not our father Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called God’s friend. You see that a person is … Continue reading Fire Insurance???

Source: Cosmic Log – Faster-than-light neutrinos confirmed. Goodbye E=m² !!! It looks like scientists have discovered that matter can travel faster than the speed of light. One of Einstein’s simplest and most dramatic theories postulated that this was impossible. According to the theory when matter approaches the speed of light it turns into pure energy. He also postulated that matter no bigger than an eraser could create more energy than all the stockpiles of nuclear bombs now in existence. Einstein was definitely one of my heroes as I was growing up. I think I read his biography when I was in … Continue reading Say It Isn't So….